Match



March 6, 1934.

MATCH Filed May 5, 19 51 INVENTOR A I'TORN EY Patented Mar. 6, 1 934 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacturev of matches and has for its object certain improvements in the manufacture of matches. The invention relates more particularly to a method of manufacturing an improved match, as well as to the improved match itself as an article of manufacture.

= Numerous proposals have been advanced to reduce fire hazards due to the discarding or throwing away of lighted matches. It has been suggested, for example, so to construct a match that when it burns to a certain point or distance, the flame will be extinguished. Numerous types of construction have been devised to make a match perform in this manner. Matches of this character are, however, objectionable for the reason that their burning time is limited, particularly if the combustible portion of the match stick or splint is very short. On the other hand, if the combustible part of the stick or splint is spaced too far from the head of the match, it defeats its own purpose; which is to have the flame die out in the time normally required to light an object, such as a cigarette or cigar. is of course desirable to have a match that can be made to burn for a relatively long period.

As a result of my investigations, I have determined on a method of manufacturing matches according to which they may be so constructed as to permit substantial burning of the stick or splint portions, after which the matches may be dropped through the air with comparative safety. During their descent, the matches are substantially always extinguished. 'They are self-extinguishing.

According to the present invention, the

matchesare so constructed that when a lighted one is dropped -or thrown through the air, it. will assume a generally upright position with" the burning end uppermost. During its travel through the air, theflame will tendto be kept away from the combustible portions of the match. Therefore, during its descent, the burning flame becomes impoverished as far as fresh combustible fuel is concerned; and the passing air also tends to fan or blow-out the drooping flame.

The present invention. accordingly contem-.

plates a method of manufacturing a match according to which the end of the match opposite the match head is so weighted that the match. stick or splint, while burning and when dropped through the air, promptly assumes a generally upright position with the burning end uppermost.

It is well known that a match burns most the match opposite the head end may be approactively when held in such a position that the flame is constantly coming in contact with new or fresh fuel. This'position is obtained when the head of the match is pointed downwardly, and the hungry iiame eats its way upwardly co along the highly combustible stick or splint. On reversing this position, with the head uppermost, the match has a decided tendency to decrease its rate of burning, and in many cases to become extinguished. 1 y

In the practice of, the present invention Iv have utilized. this principle or tendency of a match to become extinguished when its burning end is held uppermost. In the practice of the present invention, it is therefore aimed to utilize the retarding action of the air through which a discarded match must pass to insure an upright or vertical position of the match with the head or burning end uppermost. In order to accomplish this highly-desirable eifect, the weightof the end 7i of the match opposite the head may be suitably increased. The same result may 'be obtained by decreasing the weight of the head end. Again, the area of the head end after burning may be made to increase in order that the resistance of the air through which it passes will insure an upright or substantially vertical position of the dropping match.

My investigations have shown that regardless of the means employed to bring about an upright or vertical position of the match with the head or burning end uppermost, the flame is readily .extinguished as it passes through the air; partly on account of lack of fuel and partly because the flame is swept away by passing air.

A better appreciation of the present invention may perhaps be obtained by referring to some experiments I have conducted. Twenty standard paper-book matches were lighted and dropped from a horizontal position, about four feet above a laboratory floor. These matches are substantially uniformly weighted throughout their'entire length. Each one of these twenty matches continuedto burn after reaching the laboratory floor. I then lighted the same number of exactly similar matches, except that the endsopposite the head were weighted, and found that each match was extinguished while passing through't-he air, and before reaching the floor.

It is to be understood that any suitable method may be employed to prepare a match so that it will assume a generally upright or vertical position whilefalling through the air. The end of priately weighted. It may, for'example, be mad of'heavier stock; it may be impregnated with aweight-imparting substance; it may be dipped in metal; or, it may have metal attached thereto. The match sticks or splints may be so shaped or designed that air resistance will be applied in a greater degree toward the head end than elsewhere, thereby insuring the desired upright or vertical position as the match falls through the air. In fact, the head mixture may contain a substance, such as vermiculite or some other ex-= foliating material, which puffs upon burning to product a balloon-like effect, which gives a retarding action in the falling of the match, and tends to place the match stick or splint in the desired upright position.

For -a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawing, which illustrates several embodiments of the invention and in which Figure 1 illustrates a perspectiveview of one form of the match oi. this invention, the holding end of which is made of heavier stock; and

Figure 2 illustrates a'modified form of the match of this invention in which the holding end is weighted.

In Figure 1 of this drawing numeral 1 desighates the splint of a paper match, the free or holding end 2 of which is made of heavier stock so that it is heavier than the head end 3 of the match. Accordingly, the match is not uniform- 1y weighted throughout its entire length, but the holding end thereof is heavier than the head end, so that the match will assume a generally upright or vertical position while falling through the air, and the flame of the match will be extinguished.

Figure 2 illustrates a match in which the holding end is rendered heavier by additional material such as a metal block 5 attached thereto, or other suitable weight-imparting material, or metal in which the holding end of the match is dipped and which accumulates thereon so as to render the holding end of the match heavier than I will have the capacity to fall through air as herein contemplated. Even though I have not described every available method for obtaining the desired efiect, it is believed that the principle of the invention is adequate to cover whatever modifications may occur to those skilled in this particular art.

I claim:

1. In the method of manufacturing a match, the step which comprises weighting the end of the match opposite the match head to render it heavier than the match head, so that the match While burning and when dropped through the air promptly assumes a generally upright position with the burning end uppermost.

2. In themethod of manufacturing a match, the step which comprises dipping the holding end of the match splint into a weight-imparting substance that will at least in part adherethereto and render the holding end materially heavier than the opposite end.

3. In the method of manufacturing a match,

the step which comprises dipping the extreme I holding end of the match splint into metal adapted to adhere thereto in part at least for rendering the h lding endof the match heavier than the opposi e end.

4. The method of manufacturing a match, the step which comprises impregnating the holding end of the match splint with a weight-imparting substance, which renders the holding end materially heavier than the opposite end.

5. In the method of manufacturing a match, the step which comprises attaching a weight-imparting substance to the holding end of the match splint, which renders the holding end materially heavier than the opposite end.

6. In the method of manufacturing a match, the step which comprises making the head end of the match splint lighter in weight than the extreme opposite end.

7. As an article of manufacture, a match with its end opposite the match head weighted heavier than the match head, so that the match while burning and when dropped through the air promptly assumes a generally upright position with the burning end uppermost.

8. As an article of manufacture, a match with its holding end impregnated with a weight-imparting substance, which renders the match pendulus about its head end.

9. As an article of manufacture, a match having a weight attached and confined to its extreme holding end, to render it heavier than the opposite end.

- WILLIAM H. KOBBE'. 

